Vestibule trap-door arrangement



March 27, 1951 c. J. BEEZHOLD VESTIBULE TRAP-DOOR ARRANGEMENT 1 I. d a rI {1% W I H j m March 27, 1951 c. J. BEEZHOLD VESTIBULE TRAP-DOORARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1946 March 27, 1951 c. J.BEEZHOLD VESTIBULE TRAP-DOOR ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4,1946 wu b l f m n un u l l nn n March 2 7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMay 4, 1946 TAEZZQUJ f x w x v r March 27, 1951 c. J. BEEZHGLD VESTIBULETRAP-DOOR ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1946 Jfjifegiqfc,

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 VESTIBULE TRAP-DOOR ARRANGEMENT Christian J.Beezhold, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Pullman-Standard Car ManufacturingCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 4,1946, Serial No. 667,287

18 Claims. 1

- This invention relates to a trapdoor arrangement for the vestibules ofrailway passenger vehicles and has for its primary purpose the provisionof a trapdoor which may readily be applied to the vehicle structurewithout the necessity of elaborate fitting operations.

.The principal object of the invention comprises the provision of atrapdoor and mounting adapted for construction as a sub-assembly whichmay be installed as a unit in the step well of a vehicle at the erectionlocation.

An important object of the invention is realized in the sub-assembledfabrication of the trapdoor with its relatively movable hinge mountingmember constructed as an integrated part of the door for application tothe platform structure of a vehicle with the door and comprising themeans of attachment for the door.

Another object of the invention is accomplished in the provision of atrapdoor which may be conveniently and efficiently weatherstripped atall of the sides thereof forming joints with the platform leading to theinterior of the vestibule so that the step well is completely sealed offfrom the vestibule.

The foregoing and other and important objects of the invention areattained by the construction and arrangement hereinafter described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a railway car vestibule andplatform area illustrating .the trapdoor arrangement of this inventionand showing the vestibule folding step assembly and connected trapdoorin their open positions with the steps operatively disposed and thetrapdoor disposed vertically and releasably secured against the outerface of the open vestibule side door;

Fig. 2 also is a perspective view of the vestibule and platform areawith the folding steps in operative position, but with the trapdoordisconnected and removed to a point above the level of the platform anddisposed horizontally in vertical alignment with the step well openingshowing the trapdoor with its attached hinge structure in position forapplication to the platform structure;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the trapdoor to larger scale, showing thetrapdoor in position over the step well closing the platform opening,and illustrating the hinge for attaching the door to the platformstructure and permitting raising of the trapdoor to expose the steps; YFig. 4 is a sectional view through the trapdoor and adjoining platformstructure at the step well taken lengthwise of the door on the line 4-4of Fig. 3 and showing the attached hinge member secured to a supportingangle member at the body end wall of the vehicle and also showing themanner of Weatherstripping the trapdoor at its hinged and free edges;

Fig. 5 also is a sectional View through the trapdoor but takentransversely of the door on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 through the adjoiningplatform structure at the inner weatherstripped side of the trap doorand through the outer side threshold portion of the trapdoor with thevestibule side door and folding step assembly shown in their closedpostions above and below the threshold with the former Weatherstrippedas indicated;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3through the trapdoor hinge adjacent the threshold, showing thearrangement of one of the hinge pins about which the trapdoor rotates;

Fig. 7 is an outside elevational view showing fragmentary portions ofthe vestibule side door and folding steps in their closed positions withthe outer threshold portion of the trap- .door shown therebetween andillustrating the weathersealed condition of the trapdoor in respect tothe interior of the vestibule;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 through thethreshold portion of the trapdoor adjacent to the free edge thereofremote from the hinge and illustrating a resilient member secured to thevestibule platform in the area of the jamb for the side door adapted tocooperate with Weatherstripping means on the side door to seal thevestibule at this corner of the trapdoor;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view'taken at "the hinge edge of the trapdoor onthe line 99 of Fig. 3 through the threshold portion showing theconditions existing at this point with the threshold member extendingbeyond the hinge point and the casting member provided for closing theopening in the platform between the end of the threshold member and theend wall and against which the Weatherstripping on the vestibule sidedoor is adapted to bear; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through one of the hinge bearings, indicatedin Fig, 1 as being taken on the line l0l0 and showing the trapdoor. infull lines in raised vertical position and in broken lines in loweredhorizontal position and clearly revealing the method of attachment ofthe hinge leaf to the car structure. Q

In the construction of railway passenger cars having vestibulesincluding platforms having step wells covered by hinged trapdoorscapable of being raised to expose the steps, it has been the practiceheretofore in the mounting of the trapdoors to construct the trapdoorsand platform for separation directly at the hinge, which upon initialinstallation of the pre-assembled trapdoors necessitated not onlyextensive fitting operations of the trapdoor itself in the step wellopening but required the exercise of the utmost care in the constructionof the platform and proportioning of the trapdoor opening to insureproper relationship between'the interfitting surfaces of the trapdoorand opening, but most frequently, in spite of all precautions taken inpreparation for application of the door to provide for its readymounting and accurate fit, it has been necessary when applying thetrapdoor to resort to elaborate fitting operations involving thechipping and adjustment of the parts to accommodate the trapdoor withinthe step well opening.

In the present invention all of the foregoing difliculties are obviatedand the installation of the trapdoor reduced to a simple procedure bythe incorporation of the trapdoor mounting hinge as a part of theprefabricated trapdoor sub-assembly whereby to eliminate the hingebracket castings at the end wall of the car as heretofore used andpermitting the ready application of the trapdoor merely by placement ofthe sub-assembly within the nosing about the upper step well openingand'attaching the hinge butt to the car structure by machine screws.

In the drawings HJ represents a railway car including side walls I l andhaving a vestibule l2 defined by body end wall 13 and vestibule end wall14 and extending full width of the car between side 'doors [5. Aplatform It in the end Lil zone of the car provides a floor for thevestibule and it is with this .platform'that the trapdoor of thisinvention is adapted to be associated. The side wall ll adjacent the"lower area thereof is provided with a depending inwardly curved skirtportion IT, as best shown in "Figs. 1 and 2, and in this "area, "beneaththe level of the platform in the -zone ofthe vestibulea'stepwell l8is'incorporated affording access through the entrance of the carto theplatform level fromthe-general station platform level.

Beneath the step well opening in the platform 1'6, the step well I8 isdefined by front and'rear side wall closing sheets [9 and 2'Hsee Figs."1, '2 and 4, and at the inner side by an upper step riser 2| and afixed step 2-2 including a riser 23. A folding step assembly ispivotally mounted in the step well by means of adjustable pivot mountingassemblies 24 disposed at respectively opposite sides thereof. The stepassembly comprises a plurality of treads 26 and risers 21 extendingbetween supporting side walls 28 and is provided with a bottom cover2-9, which, when the steps are inoperatively disposed in closed positionconforms to the contour of the inwardly r curved skirt portion I! of theside wall to providea flush outside-surface. At the respectivelyopposite edges of the step assembly, the step -.well is provided withflexible closing strips 30 which seal the spaces between the sides ofthe step assembly and the step well at the side of the car to present asubstantially smooth finish when the steps are closed. The step assembly:is adapted to fulcrum, about the pivots 24 from the closed inoperativeposition. with the bottom 4 cover flush with the car side to theoperative position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 where the folding steps26 complement the fixed step 22 to provide a continuous stairway leadingto the vestibule platform 16.

The step well at the platform level is provided with nosing strips 3|and 32 secured along the inner and forward edges of the step wellopening for cooperation with the trapdoor of this invention which isadapted to cover the step well to provide a continuous platform surfacefull width of the vestibule, disposed flush with the level of platformIt. At the rear edge of the step well opening a supporting angle member33 is secured through the end wall [3 to body end sill 34, and it is tothis member that the trapdoor ishingedly mounted. The angle member 33 isrigid with the car structure and is disposed with its vertical flangedepending and which is secured to the end sill, and its other flangehorizontal at a level to support the trapdoor flush with the platform.On the under side of the horizontal flange a smaller angle member 35 issecured, as bestshown in Figs. 2, 4 and 10, by means of rivets 36,countersunk on the upper side, with the depending flange disposedoutwardly toward the step well in position for attachment of the stepwell side wall 20 which is secured thereto by self-tapping screws 37.The horizontal flange of the angle'member 33 extends across the fulldepth of the step well from the nosing 3! to the side wall of the car,but is provided with a cutout portion 38 for a purpose hereinafter toappear.

The trapdoor is hinged at that side of the step well defined by thesupporting'angle 33 and is adapted for coincidental operation with thefolding step assembly 25 so that as the trapdoor is raised toinoperative position the stepsareautomatically lowered to operativeposition and when the trapdoor is lowered to a position flush with thesurface of the platform It, the steps are raised to an inoperativeposition in which the enclosed bottom side 29 is disposed flush with thecar side to the same curvature as the contour of the inwardlycurvedskirt portion IT. This simultaneou's cooperative functioning of thetrapdoor and steps is effected by means'of an adjustable strut 4|connected between the two, as best indicated in Fig. l, and disposed tothe proper side'of'the pivotal axes of the respectivemembers toaccomplish the desired sequence of operations, with the steps loweringas the trapdooris raised and raising as the trapdoor is lowered. Thestrut is pivotally connected toa member 42 threadedinto the side wall 28of the step assembly whereby to provide for relative universalmovementand adjustment of the strut with respect to the steps. .Asimilar threaded connection $3 is provided to the trapdoor, butthismember is threaded into a sliding block i -l mounted in a frame 45in the trapdoor and adjusted by means of oppositely iprojectable studbolts '66 to provide adjustment (of the strut ina direction lengthwiseofthetra'pdoor at right angles to the hinge axis. The :whole assembly issecured in the trapdoor 'by the attachmerit of cover plate 31.

The trapdoor is constructed of top and bottom plates 48 and 9 spacedapart and reinforced'by flanged-channel stiffening members 5! extendinglengthwise of the door between the hinged rand :freeedges atspaced'intcrvals. A flat plate 52 'disposed between each of the members51 and the top plate 68. -At thetwo edges of the trapdoor, adapted to.cooperatewith the nosin strips 3| and 32, the bottom plate 49is'form'ed with a W-shaped section, as at 53 and 54, to provide acontinuous recess about these portions of the trapdoor for the receptionof Weatherstripping 55 which is adapted to be compressed between theW-section and a lower sealing flange 56 on the nosing memberseffectively to seal these edges of the trapdoor against the entrance ofweather from the step well. The Weatherstripping 55 is continuous aboutthese two edges of the trapdoor and the hinge edge and is secured inplace on the trapdoor by means of clamping strip 5"! attached to thebottom wall 49 by screws. At the hinge edge of the trapdoor the bottomwall is not W-shaped as at the other sides adjoining the platform, butis offset as at 58 to provide a continuous recess for the reception ofthe Weatherstripping.

. The outside edge of the trapdoor comprises a threshold member 69having a lower horizontal flange 59 to which the bottom plate 49 issecured, and an upper threshold portion 5i secured to the upper plate48. Adjacent the innermost portion of the threshold a channel member 62is disposed between the upper and lower plates to reinforce the trapdoorat this point and in effect produce a box section thresholdconstruction. A depend ing flange 63 on the threshold overlies the outerface 29 of the step assembly in the closed position and closes the gapwhich otherwise might exist between the parts. A raised abutment 64 onthe upper surface of the threshold member is adapted to cooperate with aWeatherstrip 65 on the vestibule side door 55 to seal the vestibule atthis point. The threshold extends from the free edge of the trapdoor toa point beyond the hinge axis, as best shown in Fig. 3, and is cut outadjacent the free edge of the trapdoor to fit around door jamb 66, andin order to provide a proper Weatherstripping condition at this cornerof the platform a rubber block G'i is mounted in position and shaped tobe engaged not only by the cut out portion of the threshold but by theWeatherstrip 65 on the bottom of the side door l5 and by theWeatherstrip 63 on the side of the door adapted to engage the lamb 65.threshold, non-metallic bumpers 69 are provided to prevent metal tometal contact between the folding steps and trapdoor in the closedposition. A fabricated metal pocket l'l, adapted to receive theadjustment mechanism for the connecting strut 4|, is secured in thetrapdoor between the reinforcing members 5|. The upper surface of thetrapdoor is covered with non-meta1lic material l2 which may be linoleumor rubber tile or, if desired, m'etal having a non-skid tread surfacemight be utilized for the purpose. Metal edge binding 73 arranged flushwith the threshold surface 6! is disposed about the three sides of thetrapdoor other than the threshold.

Th hinge structure for the trapdoor, which is adapted to be incorporatedas a part of the trapdoor construction for application to the car as anintegral part thereof upon installation of the assembly in the step wellopening, includes a tubular member 54, rigid with the trapdoor. -Themember it is mounted to the trapdoor by means of an enveloping rebentplate member enclosing the tubular member and integrally secured in therear edge construction of the trapdoor. As best shown in Fig. 4, theplate 15 encircles the tubular member 74 and is provided with returnflanges 76 entered between the trapdoor top plate 48 and the offsetportion 58 of the bottom plate 49, with a filler block 11 disposedtherebetween to provide a rigid edge structure with the tubular On theunderside of the construction actually forming'the rear edge of thetrapdoor.

The tubular member 14 comprises the hinge axis of the trapdoor andextends continuously between hinge butts 18 which support pintles 19about which the trapdoor is adapted to pivot during operation, and whichare fixed in the hinge butts by means of set screws 8| and project intothe opposite ends of tubular member 14. The hinge butts are integrallysecured to a sub--, stantially Z-shaped hinge leaf plate 30 extendingcontinuously full length of the hinge edge of the trapdoor from theinner side of the threshold '60 to the nosing 3| on the edge of theplatform opening at the step well. The plate 80 is provided with anupper attaching flange 82 and a lower sealing flange 83, with an arcuateconnecting portion 84 curved about the tubular member 15 and the hingebutts 18. The hinge butts are spaced apart in axial alignment to receivethe tubular structure 15 therebetween and are disposed at opposite endsof the plate 80 to which they are secured by welding 85 in the curvedportion 84, as best shown in Fig. 10.

The lower flange 83 of the plate so is disposed on a level with thesealing flange 55 onthe nosing strip at the edge of the step wellopening, and, like that member, cooperates with the weatherstrip 55 toseal the opening against the passage of weather from the step well intothe vestibule when the trapdoor is closed, as best shown in Fig. 4. Theupper flange 82 comprises the attaching means for securing the trapdoorto the car structure and is removably secured to the horizontallyextending flange of the supporting angle 33 by means of machine bolts 85having countersunk heads on the upper surface. The attaching leaf 82' iscovered by a finish strip 81 extending from the end wall i3 to the hingetubular portions and completely concealing the hinge leaf from thethreshold to the platform, and which is secured by the same boltsattaching the hinge leaf to the angle 33. It will be seen that once thehinge pintles T9 are entered through the hinge butts 18 into theopposite ends of tubular member 14 to provide trunnions about which thetrapdoor pivots, the hinge leaf 8!! operatively becomes a. unitary partof the trapdoor and is thus pre-assembled with the trapdoor beforeinstallation on the car. The sub-assembly is applied to the platformwhile the car is under construction, and in making the application tothe car, the trapdoor with the attached hinge structure is brought tothe erection location and placed in the step well opening in properrelation to the nosing strips 3! and 32 along the inner and forwardedges, and the hinge leaf 82 is then drilled, together with thesupporting angle member 33, for the reception of securing bolts 86 whichare then installed to secure the assembly.

. The threshold 6!] on the trapdoor, as stated, extends beyond the hingeaxis, and the hinge structure extends from the inner side of theprojecting portion of the threshold to the inner edge of the trapdoor. Asealing block 88, of rubber, is disposed between the end of the hingestructure and the threshold, and as best shown in Fig. 6, is fitted intothe hinge butt 18 and secured to the hinge pintle 19 by means of a screw89 in position to be wiped by the threshold during opening and closingoperations of the trapdoor, and a depending lip 9! on the thresholdinsures full engagement with the rubber blocks at all times. Theprojecting portion of the threshold during operation of the trapdoorpasses through the planes of the step well sidewall 20'and thehorizontal flange of the supporting angle 33 which are cut away toprovide for this passage. The opening thus resulting in the platform atthis point is closed by means of a filler block 92 secured by screws 93to the supporting angle, with an underlying strip of rubber 94therebetween and extend ing beyond the horizontal flange of thesupporting angle in position to be contacted by a projecting lip 95 onthe threshold (see Fig. 10) to provide a complete seal about the jointagainst the entrance of weather into the vestibule from the step well.The opening in the side wall 20 of the step well is closed by a pressedplate 96 curved to the radius of the arc described by the projectingportion of the threshold and secured to the side wall 28 and thehorizontal flange of the supporting angle by means of screws 91.

The trapdoor is releasably secured in the closed position at theplatform level by means of a combination lock and kick-up device 98which automatically engages the trapdoor when it is lowered and may bemanipulated by the foot when it is desired to release the trapdoor. Inthe raised position, the trapdoor is secured against the outer face ofthe vestibule side door I by means of a manually releasable securingdevice 99 which is automatically engaged when the trapdoor is raised andwhich engages the same device on the trapdoor for holding it open as isengaged by the catch. 93 for holding it closed. It will be noted thatthe vestibule side door is hinged at 39 to the vestibule end wall. [3and overlies the trapdoor in the closed position whereby to provide thesafety feature that the side door must be opened fully before thetrapdoor can be raised, and in the open position swings completely clearof the trapdoor area against the end wall to permit full opening of thetrapdoor.

From. the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided arailway car trapdoor having an integrated pre-assembled hinge structurewhich may be brought to the car as a subas sembled unit and readilyinstalled over the step well opening in the platform merely by attachingthe hinge to the platform. structure, and which provides for thecomplete weather-strip ping of the joints thereabout to prevent theentrance of weather into the vestibule from. the step-Well.

What is claimed is:

l. A railway car platform and trapdoor construction including a stepwell and comprising a car vestibule having a step well opening in theplatform at one side of the car, nosing strips about two sides of saidopening, a trapdoor sup-' porting member forming part of the carstructure at the hinge side of the opening and disposed immediatelybeneath the level of said platform, a hinged trapdoor for covering saidstep well having a continuous Weatherstrip adapted to cooperate withsaid nosing to seal the step well opening along said two sides, a hingefor the trapdoor forming a pre-assembled part of the trapdoor structurehaving a leaf portion secured to said sup-porting member, said hingecomprising a butt plate including said leaf portion and an offsetsealing flange connected by a bent plate portion, axially aligned hingebutts spaced apart and integrally secured to the butt plate in saidoffset bent plate portion, a continuous tubular hinge axis membersecured to the trapdoor and nested between said butt members, andremovable pintle members engageable between said hinge butts and thetubular axis member about which the trapdoo'r'is adapted to pivot, saidsealing flange 00- operating with said continuous Weatherstrip to sealthe step well opening at the hinge edge of the trapdoor, and meansoverlying said leaf portion on the supporting member substantially flushwith said platform.

- 2. A railway car platform and trap-door construction including a stepwell and com--' prising a car vestibule having a step well opening inthe platform at one side of the car, nosing strips about two sides ofsaid opening, a trapdoor supporting member forming part of the carstructure at the hinge side of the opening, a hinged trapdoor forcovering said step well hav-, ing a continuous Weatherstrip adapted tocoop-: crate with said nosing to seal the step well opening along saidtwo sides, a hinge for the trap--. door forming a pre-assembled part ofthe trapdoor structure having a leaf portion secured to said supportingmember, said hinge comprising a butt plate including said leaf portionand an offset sealing flange extending beneath the hinge, axiallyaligned hinge butts spaced apart and integrally secured to the buttplate, a continuous tubular hinge axis member secured to the trapdoorand nested between said butt members, and pintle members engageablebetween said hinge butts and the tubular axis member about which thetrapdoor is adapted to pivot, said sealing flange cooperating with saidcontinuous weatherstrip to seal the step well opening at the hinge edgeof the trapdoor. I

3. A railway car platform and trapdoor construction including a stepwell and comprising a car vestibule having a step well opening in theplatform at one side of the car, a trapdoor supporting member formingpart of the car structure at the hinge side of the opening, a hingedtrapdoor for covering said step well having a continuous Weatherstripadapted to seal the step well opening, a hinge for the trapdoor forminga preassembled part of the trapdoor structure having a leaf portionsecured to said supporting member, said hinge comprising a butt plateincluding said leaf portion and sealing flange extending beneath thehinge, axially aligned hinge butts spaced apart and secured to the buttplate, a tubular hinge axis member on the trapdoor nested be tween saidbutt members, and pintle members en gageable between said hinge buttsand the tubular axis member about which the trapdoor is adapted topivot, said sealing flange cooperating with said icontinuousWeatherstrip to seal the step well opening at the hinge edge of thetrapdoor.

4. A railway car platform and trapdoor construction including a stepwell and comprising a car vestibule having a step well opening in theplatform at one side of the car, a hinged trapdoor for covering saidstep well having a bottom Weatherstrip adapted to seal the step wellopening, a trapdoor supporting member at the hinge side of the opening,a hinge for the trapdoor having a leaf portion secured to saidsupporting member, said leaf portion including a sealing flangeextending beneath the hinge for cooperation with said Weatherstrip toseal the step well opening at the hinge edge of the trapdoor, axiallyaligned hinge butts forming part of the hinge and disposed between saidleaf portion'and said sealing flange, a tubular hinge m'eln' her on thetrapdoor extending between said butt members, and a pintle memberengageable be tween said hinge member on the trapdoor and said hingebutts and about which the trapdoor is adapted to pivot.

5; A trapdoor 'for a railway car ,ves-tibule step well opening includingan integrated trapdoor and hinge construction, said hinge comprising abutt plate including an attaching leaf portion, a sealing flange beneaththe hinge, axially aligned hinge butts spaced apart on said butt plate,a hinge member on the trap-door forming the connection between thetrapdoor and hinge construction, and a pintle member forming a pivotalconnection between said hinge member and the hinge butts, said trapdoorhaving a bottom Weatherstrip cooperating with said sealing flange toseal the hinge construction agains the 1 passage of weather- 6. Atrapdoor for a railway car vestibule step well opening having anattached hinge construction, said hinge comprising a butt plateincluding an attaching leaf portion'fand' an offset sealing flangeextending beneath the hinge, axially aligned hinge butts on said buttplate at saidoliset substantially between the planes of said leafportion and said sealing flange, a tubular hinge member on the trapdoorextending continuously between said hinge butts, and separate pintlemembers fixed in the respective butt members and extending into saidtubular hinge member and about which the trapdoor is adapted to pivot,said trapdoor having a .bottom Weatherstrip cooperating with saidsealing flange to seal the hinge construction against the passage ofweather.

7. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having a preassembledhinge structure integrated therewith for installation as a unit in thestep well opening of a railway car platform and including a hinge buttplate having an attaching leaf portion and a flange extending beneaththe hinge, a pair of axially alinged hinge butts on said flange, hingemeans on the trapdoor in axial alignment with and extending continuouslybetween the hinge butts, and pivot means engageable between said hingemeans and hinge butts to provide a pivoted connnection for the trapdoor.

8. A railway car trapdoor hinge comprising a butt plate having upper andlower flanges, one of said flanges comprising an outwardly extendingattaching flange and the other extending beneath the hinge axis, anintermediate arcuate portion connecting said flanges, a pair of hingebutts spaced apart on said butt plate, a complemental hinge membercontinuous between said hinge butts, means for securing said member to atrapdoor, and pivot means engageabie between said hinge member and thehinge butts, the axes of said hinge member, hinge butts and arcuateportion being substantially coincident.

9. A railway car platform and trapdoor construction including a stepwell and comprising a car vestibule having a step well opening in theplatform at one side of the car, a hinged trapdoor for covering saidstep well having a bottom Weatherstrip adapted to seal the step Wellopening, a trapdoor supporting member at the hinge side of the opening,a hinge structure for the trapdoor having an attaching leaf portionsecured to said supporting member and including a bottom flangeextending beneath the hinge for cooperation with said Weatherstrip toseal the step well opening at the hinge edge of the trapdoor, axiallyaligned hinge butts on said flange, a com plemental hinge member on thetrap-door disposed between said hinge butts, hinge pintle meansengageable between said hinge member and the hinge butts about which thetrapdoor is adapted to pivot, said; trapdoor having-a threshold at thatside adjacent the jsideof the car extending full length ofthe trapdoorfrom the free edge thereof and beyond said hinge structure, meanssealing the joint around said threshold beyond the hinge structure, andsealing means between the end of said hinge struc-. ture and thethreshold. w v d I 10. A railway car platform and trapdoor con structionincludinga step well and comprising'a car vestibule havin a step wellopening infthe platform at one side of the car a hinged, trapdoor forcoverin Saidstepwell having a bo tt Weatherstrip adapted-to sealthe stepwellgop ing, a trapdoor supporting member at the hinge id .,o t ne-. -ai inee s riictu -ti e e p sifii v h n an-;.at e h l a rfi q ii a curedto said supporting member and includin a bottom flange extending beneaththe hinge for cooperation with said weatherstrip'to" seal the step wellopening at the hinge edge of the trap door, axially aligned hinge buttson said flange, a complemental hinge member on the trapdoor disposedbetween said hinge butts, and hinge pintle means engageable between saidhinge mem ber and the hinge butts about which the trapdoor is adapted topivot, said trapdoor having a, threshold at that side; adjacent the sideof the car extending full length of the trapdoor from the 1fJree edgethereof and beyond said hinge strucure.

11. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having apreassembled hinge structure integrated therewith for installation as aunit in the step well opening of a railway car platform and including ahinge butt plate having an attaching leaf portion and a pair of axiallyaligned hinge butts, hinge means on the trapdoor in axial alignmentwithand continuous between the hinge butts, and pivot means engageablebetween said hinge means and hinge butts to provide a pivotal connectionfor the trapdoor.

12. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having apreassembled hinge structure integrated therewith for installation as aunit in the step well opening of a railway car platform and including ahinge butt plate for attachment to said platform, a pair of spaced aparthinge butts on said plate, and continuous hinge means on the trapdoor inaxial alignment between said hinge butts and cooperating therewith toprovide a pivotal connection for the trapdoor.

13. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having apreassembled hinge structure integrated therewith for installation as aunit in the step well opening of a railway car platform and including ahinge butt plate for attachment to said platform, and a pair of spacedapart hinge butts on said plate, said trapdoor having a continuoustubular edge structure in axial alignment between said hinge butts andpivotally associated therewith to provide a pivotal connection for thetrapdoor.

14. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having apreassembled hinge structure integrated therewith for installation as aunit in the step well opening of a railway car platform and including ahinge plate, hinge butts secured to said plate, a hinge member on thetrapdoor pivotally connected with said hinge butts, said plate having anoutwardly directed upper flange for attachment to said platform and aninwardly directed lower flange extending beneath the hinge, and anarcuate portion connecting said upper and lower flanges, the axes ofsaid hinge structure and of said arcuate portion being substantiallycoincident. v

15. A railway car trapdoor comprising a subassembly having apreassembied hinge structure integrated therewith for installation as aunit in the step well opening of a railway car platform, said hingestructure comprising a tubular hinge member on the trapdoor, a hingebutt operativeiy connected with the hinge member, a hinge platesupporting said hinge butt having an outwardly directed upper flange forattachment to said platform and an inwardly directedlower flangeextending beneath the hinge, and 'an intermediate portion integrallyconnecting said flanges.

16. A railway car trapdoor hinge comprising a butt plate including anoutwardly directed attaching flange having a depending arcuate-portiondisposed inwardly, a pair of hinge butts spaced apart on the butt plate,a complemental hinge member continuous between said hinge butts, andpivot means engageable between said hinge member and the hinge butts,the axes of said hinge member, hinge butts and arcuate portion beingsubstantially coincident.

17. A railway car trapdoor hinge comprising a butt plate having anoutwardly directed upper attaching flange and an inwardly directed lowerflange extending beneath the hinge axis, an inter- 12 mediate arcuateportion connecting saidfianges, a pair of hinge butts spaced apart onthe butt plate, and continuous hinge means on the trapdoorpivotallyconnected between the hinge butts, the axes of said hingemeans, hinge butts and arcuate portion being substantially coincident.

18. A railway car trapdoor hinge comprising a hinge butt including anoutwardly directed attaching flange and a depending arcuate portiondisposed inwardly and supporting a pair of bearings in spaced apartrelation, and a complemental hinge member pivotally mounted between saidbearings, the axes of said hinge member and of said arcuate portionbeing substantially coincident.

CHRISTIAN J. BEEZHOLD. I

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,811,848 Holmes June 20, 19311,981,714 Yost Nov. 20, 1934 2,124,872 Chafee July26, 1938 2,148,522 AXeFeb. 28, 1939 2,170,998 Griffith Aug. 30, 1939

